Cian Uijtdebroeks (Movistar Team) has withdrawn from La Vuelta before stage 5 after further examinations found that the injury from his heavy stage 2 crash was more extensive than first estimated.
Movistar confirmed his withdrawal on Wednesday morning, just hours before the Spanish Grand Tour was due to enter Spain for the first time in this edition. The team said iit edition the call so the 23-year-old could begin his recovery after another brutal Grand Tour start.
The announcement came after a brutal 104.8km stage 4 entirely in Andorra, where Uijtdebroeks finished 182nd and last. He crossed the line in Andorra la Vella 26:11 behind stage winner and race leader Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) and was reduced to tears after completing the stage.
Movistar said in its team race report that “the Belgian struggled from the very first metres of the stage due to the crash he suffered two days ago, which continues to significantly limit his performance. Nevertheless, Cian once again made a valiant effort to complete the stage and reach the finish line, in another display of courage in the face of the adversities he has encountered this season.”
Two stages completed after the crash
Uijtdebroeks crashed early on stage 2 but, despite yoyoing off the back of the peloton, only lost 18 seconds to the leaders of the stage won by Matthew Brennan (Visma-Lease a Bike). Stage 3 was another tough day, but its cancellation in a hailstorm gave him another lifeline. But stage 4 was clearly too much, and he was dropped early on the first climb of the day. The team has not revealed the nature or extent of the injury.
The young Belgian climber gave his all but he has had to leave to race due to the extent of his injuries being more serious than the team had first though. After stage 4, the team published a message of support on Instagram, saying: “Cian, you have no idea how proud we are of you.”
“You gave everything to finish the stage, in a very difficult year for you, in which, when bad luck has not crossed your path, you have shown what you are capable of,” Movistar said. “You are a fighter. And we have no doubt that you will prove it again.”
Uijtdebroeks’ difficulties contrasted with teammate Enric Mas (Movistar Team), who finished sixth at 2:39 and moved into third overall. That result gave Movistar a strong general classification position, albeit bittersweet because of Uijtdebroeks’ condition.
On X the team said: “Following further tests and examinations, it has been determined that the injury sustained in his crash during the 2nd stage is more extensive than initially estimated. The team has decided that Cian will withdraw from the race so that he can begin his recovery as soon as possible.”
It is another disappointing Grand Tour end for Uijtdebroeks who has not completed a Grand Tour since his first in 2023, where he finished eighth overall. It is his second abandon of a big three week race this summer as well after the Belgian left the Tour de France on stage 6 because of illness, having arrived after a top-10 general classification finish at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. La Vuelta was his fifth Grand Tour start.
There has been a lot reported about his career, having spent two years at Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe where he showed good promise and won the Tour de l’Avenir, before controversially moving to Visma-Lease a Bike. However, his tenure there didn’t last long either as he looked for more GC chances. This saw him move again, after two years, to sign a four year contract with Movistar. But, despite promising signs, the Grand Tour luck has deserted him.
